Castelo de Alcoutim

Castle - Iron Age, Roman Period, Middle Ages, Modern Age e Contemporary Period (2650)
This castle is built on the hillside of the right bank of the Ribeira de São Marcos, close to its connection to the Rio Guadiana. The construction of this castle occurs at the beginning of the 14th century, during the reign of D. Dinis, and was finished during the reign of D. Afonso IV. This military structure of irregular blueprint was a strategic point in the defence of the Portuguese border during the Early Middle Ages. It is made of shale, without any towers connected to the walls and with two gates, oriented North and East respectively. During the reign of D. Manuel in the 16th century, the castle receives several improvements in the inner areas, with a new ogive-arch Gothic door being built in the eastern wall. During the Portuguese Restoration War in the 17th century, the strategic importance of the castle in the defence of Portuguese borders led to its structural reinforcement and the adaption of its structures to the military innovations (artillery) of the Modern period.

Overview

The archaeological site has a visitable museum centre Information is available in digital format and explanatory leaflet. Ticket purchased locally.

Visit conditions

Entrance with admission ticket

Timetables

Opening hours: From October 1st to March 31st 09.00 to 17.00 From April 1st to September 30th 09.00 to 19.00. Closed on January 1st, 24th, 25th and 31st December.

Contacts

Documents

    How to get there? Best practices

    Best practices

    Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

    To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

    Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

    More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

    Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

    As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

    • Respect all signs; 
    • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
    • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
    • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
    • Do not collect materials or sediments;
    • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
    • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
    • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
    • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
    • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
    • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
    • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
    • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

    Further information:

    AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

    Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

    DGPC contacts

    Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

     


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